Safety switch lock



Sept. 7, 1926. 1,599,047

7 T. HALL SAFETY SWITCH LOCK Filed June 18, 1925 Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE. v

'roivr HALL, or roar soorr, Kansas.

SAFETY swrroir Loan.

Application filed June 18, 1925. SerialNo. 38,013.

5 be prevented from moving away from the rails.

One of the important objectsof the pres ent invention is to provide asafety switch lock of the above mentioned may be readily and easilybowed to an operative or inoperative position.

A further object is to provide a safety switch lock of'the abovementioned character which is of such construction as vto permit theinstallation thereof without necessitating any alterations with respectto the switch or rails. Y

A still further object is to provide a safety switch lock of theabovementioned character which. is simple in construction,

inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted to the purposefor which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will become apparentvduring the course of the following description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawin the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisapplication and in which like numerals designate like parts throughoutthe same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the switch lock embodying my inventionshowing the manner in which the same is associated with the switchpoint, the locking lever being shown in its operative position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the switch lock per se, and

Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof.

In the drawing wherein for thepurpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates astandard stationary main rail, the same being secured on the ties 2 inthe usual manner. The movable switch point 3 is adapted to be moved intoand out of en ga 'enient with the stationary rail 1 by any well knowntype of hand operated standard railroad switches. As the operating meansa for actuating the switch point forms no im portant part of the presentinvention, a

further detailed description thereof is not thought necessary.

' Oftentimes the switch stand is acc1denp character wherein the switchpoint engaging member 7 tally struck or otherwise disrupted, and as aresult, the switch point is thrown out of engagement with the rail andisleft in such position, and as a result willcause an oncoming train to bewrecked. For the pur pose of locking the switch point against thestationary railso that there will be no possibility of the switch pointbeing thrown out of engagement with the rail should an accident occur tothe switch stand, I have provided a' novel switch lock, the constructionof which will be presently described.

The switch lock comprises the base plate t which is secured on top ofone or more of the ties 2 adjacent the switch point, the base plate 1-underlying the stationary'rail and the switch point and having one endthereof extending beyond the base flange of the stationary rail on theoutermost side thereof. A rail brace 5i's secured on the outer endof thebase plate 4-, and is adapted to engage the, web of the stationary rail.1

in the manner more clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

A pair of spacedupstanding lugs 6'and 7 respectively are secured on theinner end of the base plate l, the securing means being illustratedzit-8. These lugs are provided with registering openings, and alsoadapted for registry with the aforementioned openings is an openingformed in the inner end of the locking lever 9, the latter being in theform of a flat bar and being twisted adjacent its inner end as at 10 sothat the inner end portion thereof is disposed vertically and isfurthermore adapted to be interposed between the spaced lugs, and whenall of the openings are in registration a bolt 11 6X- tends therethroughand provides a means whereby the inner end of the locking lever 9 willbe pivotally supported between the spaced lugs, so that the lockinglever will be adapted for swinging movement in a vertical plane.

The outermost side of the web of the switch point3 has formed thereonthe projection 12, and the purpose will also be presently set forth.

In order to hold the switch point 3 in locked engagement with theadjacent rail 1, after the hand operated switch has been actuated tomove the switch point into engag ment with the rail 1, the locking lever9 is swung on its pivot 11 downwardly above the base plate 4 so that thefree end of the relation with the lug-12 formed on the web of the switchpoint 3 so that when the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 3 of thedrawing, the switch point will be locked in its closed position againstthe rail 1 and should anything happen to the standing switch when the sitch point is in the position above c iescribed, there will be no dangerof the switch point being moved to its open position, thereby preventingany serious accident.

In order that the switch point may be thrown to an open position thelocking lerer 9 must be first swung outwardly out of engagement with thelug 12 into the position shown in dotted lines, and when in thisposition, the switch point may then be thrown out in the usual manner.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, that a safetyswitch lock has been provided which may be readily and easily installedfor use in connection with switches 01 the hand operated type, and thepresent device will at all times be positive and efficient in carryingout the purposes for which the same is designed.

Vhile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention it is to beunderstood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement outparts may be resorted to witl out departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let-" ters Patent is 1. In combination with a stationary mainrail, a movable switch point including a base flange a web portion and ahead portion the base flange of said switch point being adapted to reston the adjacent base flange of said stationary main rail, a base plateunderlying said rail and said switch point, a pair of spaced lugssecured on the inner end of said base plate, a locking lever pivotallysupported at its inner end between said lugs, a projection formed on theouter side of the web portion of the movable switch point, the outerfree end of said looking lever being adapted to be swung into engagementwith said projection on the web portion on the switch point for holdingthe latter against the stationary main rail.

2. In combination with a stationary main rail, a movable switchpointincluding a base flange, a web portion and a head portion the baseflange 01 said switch point being adapt-ed to rest on the adjacent baseflange of said stationary main rail, a base plate underlying said railand said switch point, a pair of spaced lugs secured on the inner end ofsa d base plate, a locking lever pivotally supported at its inner endbetween said lugs, a projection formed on the outer side of the webportion of the movable switch point the enter free end of said lockinglever being adapted to be swung into enem-ent with the projection on theweb portion-on the switch point for holding the latter against thestationary main rail, and a rail brace secured on the outer end of thebase plate and adapted to engage the outer side of the web portion ofthe stationary main rail.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

TOM HALL.

